Lesson 24 Explore 2: Is the Devil Real? | Bible Questions
The Bible’s answer
Yes, the Devil is real. He is “the ruler of the world,” a spirit creature who became wicked and rebelled against God.
(John 14.30: I will not speak with you much more, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has no hold on me.)
(Ephesians 6.11, 12: Put on the complete suit of armor from God so that you may be able to stand firm against the crafty acts of the Devil; because we have a struggle, not against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.)
The Bible reveals the Devil’s personality through these names and descriptions:
• Satan, which means “Resister.”-
(Job 1.6: Now the day came when the sons of the true God entered to take their station before Jehovah, and Satan also entered among them.)
• Devil, which means “Slanderer.”-
(Revelation 12.9: So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.)
• Serpent, which is used in the Bible to mean “Deceiver.”-
(2 Corinthians 11.3: But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent seduced Eve by its cunning, your minds might be corrupted away from the sincerity and the chastity that are due the Christ.)
• Tempter.-
(Matthew 4.3: And the Tempter approached and said to him: “If you are a son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”)
• Liar.-
(John 8.44: You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie.)
Not a principle or quality of evil
Some view Satan the Devil as just a principle or quality of evil that exists inside us. However, the Bible records a conversation between God and Satan. God is perfect, so he could not have been talking to an evil part of himself.
(Deuteronomy 32.4: The Rock, perfect is his activity, For all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness who is never unjust; Righteous and upright is he.)
(Job 2.1-6: Afterward the day came when the sons of the true God entered to take their station before Jehovah, and Satan also entered among them to take his station before Jehovah. Then Jehovah said to Satan: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered Jehovah: “From roving about on the earth and from walking about in it.” And Jehovah said to Satan: “Have you taken note of my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth. He is an upright man of integrity, fearing God and shunning what is bad. He is still holding firmly to his integrity, even though you try to incite me against him to destroy him for no reason.” But Satan answered Jehovah: “Skin for skin. A man will give everything that he has for his life. But, for a change, stretch out your hand and strike his bone and flesh, and he will surely curse you to your very face.” Then Jehovah said to Satan: “Look! He is in your hand! Only do not take his life!”)
Likewise, Satan tempted Jesus, who is free of sin.
(Matthew 4.8-10: Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.” Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”)
(1 John 3.5: You know, too, that he was made manifest to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.)
Thus, the Bible shows that the Devil is real and not merely a personification of evil.
Should we be surprised that many people don’t believe that the Devil is real? Not at all, for the Bible says that Satan uses deception to accomplish his aims.
(2 Thessalonians 2.9, 10: But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved.)
One of his greatest tricks has been to blind many people to his existence.-
(2 Corinthians 4.4: among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.)
More misconceptions about the Devil
Myth: Lucifer is another name for the Devil.
Fact: The Hebrew word that in some Bibles is translated “Lucifer” means “shining one.”
(Isaiah 14.12: How you have fallen from heaven, O shining one, son of the dawn! How you have been cut down to the earth, You who vanquished nations!)
The context shows that this term refers to the dynasty, or line of kings, of Babylon, which God would humiliate for its arrogance.
(Isaiah 14.4: you will recite this proverb against the king of Babylon: “How the one forcing others to work has met his end! How the oppression has ended!)
(Isaiah 14.13-20: You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens. Above the stars of God I will lift up my throne, And I will sit down on the mountain of meeting, In the remotest parts of the north. I will go up above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself resemble the Most High.’ Instead, you will be brought down to the Grave, To the remotest parts of the pit. Those seeing you will stare at you; They will closely examine you, saying, ‘Is this the man who was shaking the earth, Who made kingdoms tremble, Who made the inhabited earth like the wilderness And overthrew its cities, Who refused to let his prisoners go home?’ All other kings of the nations, Yes, all of them, lie down in glory, Each one in his own tomb. But you are discarded without a grave, Like a detested sprout, Clothed with the slain who were stabbed with the sword, Who go down to the stones of a pit, Like a carcass trampled underfoot. You will not join them in a grave, For you destroyed your own land, You killed your own people. The offspring of evildoers will never again be named.)
The expression “shining one” was used to mock the Babylonian dynasty after it was overthrown.
Myth: Satan works for God as a “prosecuting attorney.”
Fact: The Devil is God’s enemy, not his servant. Satan the Devil opposes and falsely accuses people who serve God.-
(1 Peter 5.8: Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.)
(Revelation 12.10: I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God!)
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